High school volleyball: Lake Catholic's Detering commits to the Florida Gators

All that withstanding, the 6-foot standout from Lake Catholic's volleyball program already knows where she will be attending college in two years.

Detering has given her verbal commitment to play for the Florida Gators. She has two more years at Lake Catholic, but she said the opportunity to play for legendary coach Mary Wise was too good to pass up.

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"Their program is among the top 10 in the nation," Detering said. "That's one reason why I chose to go there. The coach, Mary Wise, is a legend in the sport."

The Gators (27-6) advanced to the elite eight of the NCAA tournament last season, losing to Illinois in that round.

In Wise's 21 seasons at Florida, the Gators have won 19 Southeastern Conference regular season championships and 12 SEC tournament titles. The Gators have also made seven Final Four appearances, including an appearance in the 2003 NCAA championship final.

"I'm looking forward to learning from her and hopefully winning a national championship," Detering said.

Detering chose Florida's scholarship over offers from Alabama, Iowa, West Virginia, Wichita State and Pittsburgh.

With two years of high school eligibility remaining, as well as plenty of Junior Olympic tournaments, Detering understands there will be a slew of late-comers to the recruiting party.

But she insists the courtship period is over.

"Ever since I went there to visit the first week of February, I knew that was the perfect school for me," she said.

Detering received the offer last weekend while she and her ABC (The Academy Volleyball Cleveland) JO team were playing in a tournament at SPIRE Institute in Harpersfield Township. Between matches, her JO coach told her the Florida coach had called and asked Detering for a return call.

"I had no idea they were going to offer me," Detering said with a giggle. "The coach answered the phone and said, 'We want you to be a Gator.' "

Detering said she asked a few questions, such as how the Gators plan to use her, and did her best not to just blurt out a "Yes." She waited a few days before returning the phone call with her verbal pledge.

Detering is coming off a sophomore season in which she clubbed 340 kills as Lake Catholic's right-side hitter. She also put up 260 assists when rotating to the back row.

"I'll be a setter at Florida," said Detering, noting that is also her position with ABC. "My first year, I might play all the way around, but long term I'll be setting.

"It's funny because everyone at Lake Catholic knows me as an outside hitter. But being left-handed and tall is what (Florida) is looking for in a setter."

Detering paused more than few moments when asked about a possible major. After all, she is only going into her junior year in high school.

She does, however, have a pretty good idea who her roommate will be. After receiving her offer, she found out a girl from Michigan, Carly Snyder, is also a Florida recruit. Snyder's team is the only team that defeated Detering's team this past weekend at SPIRE.

"I think we're going to be roommates," Detering said. "I know Florida is the perfect place for me. I'm looking forward to it."